$900 million for 30,000 seats in Tampa

[jerichoholicninja]

Great news. Chalk one up for the taxpayer.

 

Tampa politicians apparently much smarter than the ones in King County, Washington. At least for today.

 

Portland, Oregon just agreed last month to build an MLB stadium so it looks like the Rays are heading west.

[BrewersSuperCollector]

Great news. Chalk one up for the taxpayer.

 

Tampa politicians apparently much smarter than the ones in King County, Washington. At least for today.

 

Portland, Oregon just agreed last month to build an MLB stadium so it looks like the Rays are heading west.

 

Smart move. Try and get out of the division with the Red Sox and Yankees.

[Eye Black]

Great news. Chalk one up for the taxpayer.

 

Tampa politicians apparently much smarter than the ones in King County, Washington. At least for today.

 

Portland, Oregon just agreed last month to build an MLB stadium so it looks like the Rays are heading west.

Support is growing towards building a new ballpark in Montreal as well.

 

I am not really for expansion, but I have a feeling it may be coming to MLB sooner than we expect.

[homer]

Portland or Montreal would be great options. Montreal got a bad rap but that stadium was horrible. I actually think MLB would do well there given a new location.

[DHonks]

I've been advocating for Portland, Las Vegas, and Montreal for a while. So it's nice to hear two being considered. I'd like to see MLB expand to 8 divisions with 4 teams in each.

 

Arizona also has a stadium issue that needs resolving. Most here seem to think the DBacks--and possibly Coyotes--may move to the Indian Reservation near Salt River Fields and the Talking Stick Resort and Casino. I'd also like to see Milwaukee and SE Wisco keep the stadium tax to build funds in advance for the inevitable Miller Park replacement in 20 years. Of course, I thought that the funds should have also been used for the Bucks arena

[MrTPlush]

I've been advocating for Portland, Las Vegas, and Montreal for a while. So it's nice to hear two being considered. I'd like to see MLB expand to 8 divisions with 4 teams in each.

 

Arizona also has a stadium issue that needs resolving.

 

Arizona isn't much of an issue if you ask me. It isn't like no one wants to support them and they may be forced to relocate far far away. They want to move out of Phoenix, but sounds like that won't be an option for years.

 

The real issues are Tampa Bay and Oakland. They need to figure out their deal before expansion can happen.

[KeithStone53151]

If Tampa Bay moved to Portland, that would make AL travel schedules much easier. Cleveland would probably shift to the east and the rangers to the central. Of course, that would all have a wrench thrown in if there's an expansion to 32 teams.

[tmwiese55]

Lots or rumors in Vegas that the Rio is going to be destroyed an MLB stadium built there too. Seems a lot of smoke on this one too

[DHonks]

I've been advocating for Portland, Las Vegas, and Montreal for a while. So it's nice to hear two being considered. I'd like to see MLB expand to 8 divisions with 4 teams in each.

 

Arizona also has a stadium issue that needs resolving.

 

Arizona isn't much of an issue if you ask me. It isn't like no one wants to support them and they may be forced to relocate far far away. They want to move out of Phoenix, but sounds like that won't be an option for years.

.

 

Arizona doesn't have a team issue, they have a stadium issue. The stadium has many fault in terms of design. It's likely we'll hear about a new stadium being paid for by the native American tribe in the next 3-5 years.

[homer]

The D-Backs stadium was built in like six weeks - well not really but it always felt really cheap for a retractable dome. Phoenix has more stadiums than it knows what to do with. I think the Suns want a new one too.

[MrTPlush]

I've been advocating for Portland, Las Vegas, and Montreal for a while. So it's nice to hear two being considered. I'd like to see MLB expand to 8 divisions with 4 teams in each.

 

Arizona also has a stadium issue that needs resolving.

 

Arizona isn't much of an issue if you ask me. It isn't like no one wants to support them and they may be forced to relocate far far away. They want to move out of Phoenix, but sounds like that won't be an option for years.

.

 

Arizona doesn't have a team issue, they have a stadium issue. The stadium has many fault in terms of design. It's likely we'll hear about a new stadium being paid for by the native American tribe in the next 3-5 years.

 

Right, so not really an issue.

 

The problem is something in the agreement where the D Backs think they deserve money for upgrades, but Phoenix refuses to pay them anything. AND the D Backs were like fine we will leave, but Phoenix said oh no you aren’t.

 

The question isn’t if they will get one near Phoenix, it is when. Thus not really a concern.

[owbc]

It looks like the Oakland situation is finally getting resolved which is good. Plus their concepts look really unique and cool. It seems like we're finally past the retro ballpark era.

 

Relocation...the Rays will go to the first city to get a shovel in the ground. Portland certainly has a lead with land secured but the Montreal group appears to be quietly getting their ducks in a row. The Portland site isn't the best. Montreal also has a temporary stadium which avoids a lame duck situation. Everyone has already kind of given up on Tampa, the last proposal had all the makings of an "at least we tried".

[Oxy]

If I had billions, I'd give a billion to put a stadium in Central Park Manhattan and have the Rays move there.

 

Brooklyn and North Jersey should have a park/MLB team too.

 

 

If anybody has an argument how that wouldn't be great for the MLB and every baseball fan in America and New York especially, I'd like to hear it.

[Point Beer Is Best]

If I had billions, I'd give a billion to put a stadium in Central Park Manhattan and have the Rays move there.

 

Brooklyn and North Jersey should have a park/MLB team too.

 

 

If anybody has an argument how that wouldn't be great for the MLB and every baseball fan in America and New York especially, I'd like to hear it.

 

 

I'm not against your argument as it would certainly add competition in a market saturated with fans, but I'm pretty sure there exists some sort of territorial agreement between the Yankees/Mets and MLB. It's not unique to NYC, either. When the A's wanted to relocate to San Jose, the Giants objected saying that was part of their territory. I remember Peter Angelos objecting to the relocation of the Expos to Washington (not sure if he was compensated or just had sour grapes).

[homer]

If I had billions, I'd give a billion to put a stadium in Central Park Manhattan and have the Rays move there.

 

Brooklyn and North Jersey should have a park/MLB team too.

 

 

If anybody has an argument how that wouldn't be great for the MLB and every baseball fan in America and New York especially, I'd like to hear it.

 

 

If you were going to do that you'd build it in Jersey. Yankee stadium is like 2.5 miles from Central Park. What they should have done is had the Mets move to Brooklyn in the first place.

[FVBrewerFan]

If I had billions, I'd give a billion to put a stadium in Central Park Manhattan and have the Rays move there.

 

Brooklyn and North Jersey should have a park/MLB team too.

 

 

If anybody has an argument how that wouldn't be great for the MLB and every baseball fan in America and New York especially, I'd like to hear it.

 

So you want 5 NY area teams? My argument against that is current media contracts probably wouldn't allow it. Number two, even in NY they wouldn't support 5 MLB teams. If you're currently a Yankees or Mets fan, why would you suddenly become a Manhattan Rays fan or Brooklyn Marlins fan?

 

I question Portland also. Not a huge market, young demo, and competing against NBA and MLS- which is extremely popular there. Just a wild guess, but I would think Vegas, Charlotte, Indy, Nashville, maybe even Rochester would be better choices. Tampa and Miami both need to go, but I'm sure MLB wants at least one team in FL no matter what.

[owbc]

I question Portland also. Not a huge market, young demo, and competing against NBA and MLS- which is extremely popular there. Just a wild guess, but I would think Vegas, Charlotte, Indy, Nashville, maybe even Rochester would be better choices. Tampa and Miami both need to go, but I'm sure MLB wants at least one team in FL no matter what.

 

Portland is the largest market on your list, 3rd largest without an MLB team (behind Sacramento and Orlando). Portland is also juicy because of the lack of competition--no NFL or even big college sports within the city, MLS is inconsequential. Plus very baseball-friendly weather.

 

Honestly any of those cities could probably work with the right situation. Ownership and stadium design/location are the real keys to MLB success.

[DHonks]

If I had billions, I'd give a billion to put a stadium in Central Park Manhattan and have the Rays move there.

 

Brooklyn and North Jersey should have a park/MLB team too.

 

 

If anybody has an argument how that wouldn't be great for the MLB and every baseball fan in America and New York especially, I'd like to hear it.

 

So you want 5 NY area teams? My argument against that is current media contracts probably wouldn't allow it. Number two, even in NY they wouldn't support 5 MLB teams. If you're currently a Yankees or Mets fan, why would you suddenly become a Manhattan Rays fan or Brooklyn Marlins fan?

 

I question Portland also. Not a huge market, young demo, and competing against NBA and MLS- which is extremely popular there. Just a wild guess, but I would think Vegas, Charlotte, Indy, Nashville, maybe even Rochester would be better choices. Tampa and Miami both need to go, but I'm sure MLB wants at least one team in FL no matter what.

 

The Mitchell Report suggested the next two best cities for expansion were NYC and NYC.

[owbc]

The Mitchell Report suggested the next two best cities for expansion were NYC and NYC.

 

That would be short-sighted. How many NEW baseball fans do you get from a third team in NY?

 

To backtrack slightly, a "Brooklyn Dodgers" reboot might be fun for a while or maybe a new NY Giants playing in a replica Polo Grounds. But NYC's "second" sports teams are in bad shape right now. The NY Islanders are last in the NHL in attendance and are moving back to Long Island. The Brooklyn Nets are last in the NBA in attendance.

[JosephC]

https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-marlins-presidents-reaction-boos-miami-fans-1-2-billion-f-232058900.html

[mattyo]

https://sports.yahoo.com/ex-marlins-presidents-reaction-boos-miami-fans-1-2-billion-f-232058900.html

 

If Attanasio were ever to do something like this (I know he wouldn't) I'd have a hard time not launching a beer at his forehead. What a prick this guy is.

[tmwiese55]

I question Portland also. Not a huge market, young demo, and competing against NBA and MLS- which is extremely popular there. Just a wild guess, but I would think Vegas, Charlotte, Indy, Nashville, maybe even Rochester would be better choices. Tampa and Miami both need to go, but I'm sure MLB wants at least one team in FL no matter what.

 

Portland is the largest market on your list, 3rd largest without an MLB team (behind Sacramento and Orlando). Portland is also juicy because of the lack of competition--no NFL or even big college sports within the city, MLS is inconsequential. Plus very baseball-friendly weather.

 

Honestly any of those cities could probably work with the right situation. Ownership and stadium design/location are the real keys to MLB success.

 

Yup, no NHL or NFL. No major college. They've supported the Blazers very well over the years and from what I understand support MLS very well. They also lost their AAA team a few years ago so don't need to move a team like you would in Vegas. A good amount of money in that area too, if anyone deserves a crack it seems like Portland.

 

Just looking at this assuming it was TB who was moved to Portland. It would be a tough re-org of the divisions. The West teams that could go east would be the two TX teams and you don't really want to split them up. Cleveland could go to the East but then you'd have to move a TX team to the central. Would get complicated moving a team from the NL unless they finally get rid of the DH

[FVBrewerFan]

Portland is the opposite of what you look for in demographics. Very young, and I just don't think they would support MLB. It's why NBA and MLS are huge there- those are the popular sports for young people.

[tmwiese55]

Portland is the opposite of what you look for in demographics. Very young, and I just don't think they would support MLB. It's why NBA and MLS are huge there- those are the popular sports for young people.

 

There is money though. You can't really target old people, you have to find a way to engage young people or the sport is gonna be in big trouble. All those old people in FL are really doing a great job supporting those teams.

[FVBrewerFan]

Portland is the opposite of what you look for in demographics. Very young, and I just don't think they would support MLB. It's why NBA and MLS are huge there- those are the popular sports for young people.

 

There is money though. You can't really target old people, you have to find a way to engage young people or the sport is gonna be in big trouble. All those old people in FL are really doing a great job supporting those teams.

 

How? Instead of a family section, have a "safe zone" section? Change the rules so there can be a tie in every game?